Sydney’s public golf scene has seen Kogarah Golf Club announce it will be closing its doors to make way for commercial, retail and accommodation spaces, merging with Liverpool Golf Club. Moore Park in Sydney’s east has been one of the more high-profile course closure stories; Sydney’s busiest course under threat of being cut down to nine holes.

There are also reports of Cammeray Golf Club in Sydney’s north – which has recently reopened as a par-3 nine-hole loop – potentially under threat of closing its doors.

The proposal to repurpose the 45-hectare site at Carnarvon stems from concerns about the city’s capacity for future burials.

A 2023 audit found that certain religious groups had less than three years’ worth of space left, prompting the NSW government to explore new options. Given its proximity to Rookwood Cemetery, Carnarvon was identified as a potential site for expansion. The golf course sits on Crown land, which makes redevelopment easier than acquiring private turf.

“I think it’s fairly well-known that, as the Minister responsible for cemeteries, we’ve had an enormous shortage of cemeteries land,” NSW Minister for Lands and Property, Steve Kamper, said during the Budget Estimates in parliament.

“We need to futureproof the cemeteries space. We are looking at a number of sites and we are considering them. Once we make a decision that we want to go further with a particular site, we’ll consult with the community before the Government makes any decision,” the Minister added.


The proposal has sparked significant backlash from the golfing community and local residents, with full support from Cumberland Council. Auburn MP Lynda Voltz has been one of the most vocal opponents, arguing that Lidcombe is already starved of recreational space.

“You’re taking something that’s an active precinct for living people and absolutely handing it over to people that are no longer here,” Voltz told 9News in February.

“This is the biggest golf course in Western Sydney; it is one of the busiest sporting precincts.”

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Environmental advocates have also weighed in, citing the club’s role in urban conservation. Greater Sydney Landcare has collaborated with Carnarvon in recent years to plant hundreds of trees and shrubs, enhancing local biodiversity and improving water quality. The club’s green space provides an important counterbalance to Sydney’s increasing urban density.

“There is some concern from the wider community around the Crown land and what the intended use is for,” Carnarvon Golf Club General Manager Adam McGregor told Golf Australia magazine.

“We’re fighting to save the space we have, while continuing to provide the services we offer to the community and protect the trees and the wildlife.

“We have 10 years left on our lease, which is run through council on Crown land, and which expires in 2035; we hope that’s enough,” he added.


As it stands, Carnarvon Golf Club remains open, with its lease running for another decade. However, concerns persist that the government could move to reclaim the land before then.

Sydney’s golf courses remain under growing pressure as development threats continue to tighten their grip. The debate over Carnarvon’s future is part of a broader discussion about land use in Sydney, with Moore Park Golf Course also facing pressure to cede space for public parkland. As Sydney’s population grows, the fight to preserve green spaces, whether for recreation or conservation, will only intensify.

For now, members of Carnarvon Golf Club remain hopeful that their fairways will be spared and can continue to be utilised by the general public, who enjoyed the under-threat course during a recent open day.

“Our open day was a huge success; we were excited to open our doors and connect with the community, showcasing this stunning part of the world,” McGregor said.

“It’s a privilege to share it with our members, local residents and the incredible wildlife which calls it home. We are planning the second open day around July or August and hope it will be bigger and better.

“While golf is at the heart of what we do, we are a place for everyone – families, friends and the wider community. We encourage both familiar faces and first-time visitors to come down, experience the beauty of the course, and see everything we have to offer.”